Window balance



May 27, 1952 B. F. KENYON WINDOW BALANCE Filed May 9, 1949 NVENTOR BERTRAND E Ksnvou AT'roaneYs Patented May 27, 1952 WINDOW BALANCE Bertrand F. Kenyon, Grand Rapids, Mich., as-

signor to Mechano Gear Shift Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application May 9, 1949, Serial No. 92,188

This invention relates to a window balancing and retaining or holding device which in use is installed betweena sliding window sash and a frame in which the sash is slidably mounted, primarily for the purpose of releasably holding the sash in position to which it may be moved in the raising and lowering of it.

The device is particularly applicable to windows of light weight, as in houses, apartments, some office buildings and the like, in which the weight of the window is readily lifted by anyone who wants to do so, without need for a helper for overcoming at least a part of the sash weight. It is an object and purpose of the present invention to provide a simple and very economically manufactured holding or retaining device for sliding windows, which is substantially entirely concealed and out of sight when in use, is certain and sure in its operation, is of long life and, under all conditions of the window in its shrinking and swelling operations, is effective to provide the service for which it is designed. An understanding of the invention may be had from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in vertical section, of a window sash having my invention installed therewith and applied for use.

Figs. 2 and 3 are fragmentary horizontal sections substantially on the planes of lines 2-2 and 33 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the upper portions of the holding or retaining clutch assembly of the invention, which has a fixed mounting upon a window frame in which a window sash is slidable.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawing.

The window sash l of conventional structure, with which the invention is used, will be slidably mounted for vertical sliding movements in a window frame the inner side of a vertical side of which is indicated at 2. At a vertical side of the sash, adjacent the side 2 of the frame, the sash is grooved, forming an elongated groove 3 between the lower and upper sides of the sash as shown in Fig. 2. The window sash in Fig. 1 is shown as raised or lifted a short distance above the bottom window sill of the frame.

Within the groove 3 and lengthwise of it, an

elongated spirally twisted ribbon member 4, made from a length of flat metal of a generally rectangular cross section with opposite rounded sections, is located. At its lower end it hasa' pivotal connection to a round-rod. 5, which is horizontally 3 Claims. (Cl. 16-193) located and freely enters a cylindrical opening 6, bored from the bottom of the groove 3 into the sash close to its lower edge. The spiral ribbon 4 accordingly at its lower end has a somewhat floating mounting, as the rod 5 may readily shift in the bored opening 6 to compensate for shrinking or swelling of the wood of the sash. The elongated spiral ribbon 4 reaches at its upper end substantially to the upper end of the groove 3.

The spiral member 4 passes longitudinally through a hollow housing I which, preferably, is made of sheet metal, square in cross-section, through it may have other out-of-round cross sectional outlines. Such housing is open at its upper end and is of a sufficient length to house the springs and the clutch structure between the springs through the parts of which the spiral member 4 passes. Such housing 1 is located in the groove 3 of the sash I in the upper end portion thereof when the window is in its lowermost, closed position, it being understood that it is the lower sash of a sliding window which is being described. It is fixed to the inner side of the window frame, the adjacent vertical side of the housing having an upper extension 8 above the upper end of the housing, through which a screw may be passed, as shown in Fig. 1, into the frame 2. The lower end of the housing is partially closed, as at 9, but with a circular opening centrally of the closed lower end through which the metal ribbon 4 freely passes.

A heavy spring I0 rests upon the bottom 9 of the housing, at the upper end of which a steel plate ll of a cross section to correspond to the cross section of the housing is located. Above it is a thin block l2, which is a compressed mixture of metal and graphite powders of a cross section to be held from rotation in the housing I. The parts H and i2, both of which are of relatively narrow thickness, each have a circular opening l3 therethrough. Above the lower block l2 a circular' disk l4 of metal, in which is a diametrically positioned slot [5 closed at both ends, is placed. The diameter of the disk [4 is such that it may turn about a vertical axis, when compelled by the spiral metal member 4 as it is moved up and down with the movements of the sash l to which it is connected. In alternate relation above said plate I I are blocks I2, separated by disks [4, the uppermost disk of the series being a block l2, over which is a second metal plate I l.

There is shown in Fig. 1, six of the relatively thin blocks l2 and five of the disks l 4. This number may be varied but, preferably, in all cases equipped with the device.

are of the disks I4 so that the upper and lower members of the assembly of such blocks and disks will be the members 12, which are held against rotation, and between the successive members I2 the circular disks 14 which are rotated. The metal plates II, at the opposite ends of the assemblage of disks and blocks, preferably, will be used, but are not essential. They are used to protect the upper and lower blocks l2 from the hearing ends of the lower heavy spring 10 and a second upper, lighter spring I 6 which is placed at itslower end against the uppermost metal plate H. The composition of the blocks I2 is much softer and more easily cut and abraded by the adjacent ends of the springs l0 and 16,- so that the metal plates II are preferably used.

In the upper end of the housing I an axially hollow, exteriorly threaded member I? is inserted, having a reduced lower end Ila which ex tends into the upper end of the spring l6, and at its upper end a knurled head l8 with a screwdriver receiving slot at the upper side of the head. The member 11 is screwed through a nut l9 also of a cross section corresponding to the cross section of the housing 1. The nut I3 is located in the upper end portion or the housing I, and is held against escape by one or more tongues 2!! turned inwardly from the walls of the housing- I over the upper side of the nut. 9f course recesses may be madein appropriate sides of the nut I 9, between its upper and lower sides, and the metal of the sides of the housing pressed thereinto to obtain the same retension of the nut within the housing. 7

It is apparent that by turning the threaded member H the springs illand i6 may be compressed or released from compression.- Thusthe assemblage of blocks 12 and disks l4 in practice are pressed together, and the turning of the disks M will be accompanied by frictional resistance to suclr turning because of the pressure exerted by the disks and the blocks on each other at their adjacent sides. The blocks l2 containing graphite, provide an effective lubrication as the disks are turned and rotatedwith respect to the relatively fixed, non-rotating blocks. 7

Whenthe window is lifted and the spiral member 4 moved upwardly, a vertical component of the force transmitted. by the spiral member to thed isks f4, 'rotatively driven. thereby, tends to move all of the disks and blocks in an upward direction with a compression of the spring l6 and a release or lowering of compression of the spring 3-. This releases the static pressure of the blocks 1-2 and disks l4 against each other,

so that resistance to rotation of the disks L4 is reduced and little or no extra effort is required to raise the window over what would be required if the window was freely movable and not On the downward movement of the window sash, the vertical component of force being in the downward direction, compresses the spring in so that the pressure force of the blocks #2 and the disks I 4 against each other is increased, and a relatively strong resistance to downward movement or the window $315111 occurs, which is more than suf icient-to c'ompensate for the weight oi the window. There is 7 thusreqn-ired a downwardly applied force to the 'L'hereis in. onset a clutch of the dish type which, if the pressure was increased sufilciently by screwing the threaded member I! downwardly, could act to hold the disks [4 against rotation except upon the application of an extremely heavy force. But with the spring adjusting member I! set at a proper preselected position, with reference to the spring compression of springs 10 and IS, the window is easily lifted, and also as easily lowcred, and will remain with certainty in any position between uppermost position and closed position, at which it is left.

It is, of course, apparent that one of such holding and retaining devices may be mounted at both of the vertical sides of the window. However, in practice this will not be necessary, so that one vertical side or the window sash only need be grooved with the groove 3, and one only of the holding devices used,

The structure described is very practical and useful and in extensive trial and test has operated with perfect satisfaction. The device will operate under all conditions of the window sash and its frame except where the fit of the sash in the frame is without sufiicient tolerance, that in an extreme weather condition, causing maximum swelling of the wood of the window sash and its associated frame, a binding takes place so that the window cannot be moved at all, But-with the tolerance in fitting the window sash to its trame large enough for such extreme condition, the shrinking of the window or frame will have no effect upon the satisfactory-operation of the de-" vice. An insurance'that the sash will remain to any position to which itis raised is under any and all conditions where the sash canbe raised at portion of the attaching extension 8 of the housing will be slightly above the upper side of the sash.

It is apparent that by a reversal of the attachment' of the spiralmember 4 in connecting to an upper sash, and by a location ofthe housing 1 with it's clutchassembly thereon at the lower portion of an upper window sash, the same holding and retaining mechanism may be used for upper window sashes; the springs H!- arrd Hr still being at the lower andupper ends of. the housing 1.

The invention is defined in the" appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming With-in their scope.

I claim: 7

1. A structure as described comprising, an elongated hollow housing openat' both ends, and at each end having an outwardly extending stop member, a nut in said housing against one of said stop'members, a screw threaded through the nut, said screw having an axial passage therethrough, a coiled compression spring having one end against the inner end of the screw within the housing, a second coiled compression spring within the housing against the other stop member, said second spring having greater strength than the first spring, and aplurality of flat memhers located: side by side between the springs, said flat membersagainst said springs. having circula-r openings therethrough, and the other flat members, alternately, halving circular and metrical-1y locatedslot openings therethrough, said circular openings and the axial openingm said screw being adapted to freely pass a longitudinally twisted flatbar therethrougm' the slot openings passing said bar, the sides of the slot openings engaging said bar and rotating associated flat members on longitudinal movement of the bar through the flat members and screw.

2. A structure as described comprising, an elongated hollow housing open at both ends, and at each end having an inwardly extending stop member, a member having an axial opening extending into one end of the housing, means thereon within the housing engaging against one of said stop members, a coiled compression spring within the housing engaging at one end With the inner end of the last mentioned member, a second, greater strength, coiled compression spring Within the housing engaging at one end with the other of said stop members, a plurality of flat plates between the opposite ends of said springs pressed against each other by said springs, the end plates having circular openings therethrough and the intermediate plates having alternately, circular openings and diametrically located slot openings therethrough, and a longitudinally twisted flat 'bar passing lengthwise through the housing, said openings in the flat plates, and the axial opening of the first mentioned member.

3. An elongated hollow housing adapted to be vertically located against the inner side of a window frame, said housing being open at upper and lower ends, and at each end having an inwardly extending stop member, a spring means within, 0

the housing at its lower portion engaging the lower stop member, a superimposed plurality of fiat plates within the housing, the upper and lower 6 end plates having circular openings therethrough, and the intermediate plates, alternately, having circular openings therethrough and diametrically positioned slot openings therethrough, said plates with slot openings being rotatable about a vertical axis, means for maintaining the plates with circular openings therethrough from rotation, a second, lighter strength, spring means within the housing engaged against the upper end plate, means between said second spring means and the stop member at the upper end of the housing for holding andmaintaining both spring means under strain to force the plates into pressure engagement against each other at adjacent sides thereof, and a longitudinally twisted flat bar passing lengthwise through the housing and said openings in the fiat plates, said bar at its lower end being adapted to be connected to a vertically movable window, slidable between the vertical sides of a window frame.

BERTRAND F. KENYON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,147,271 Schoenheit July 20, 1915 1,654,763 Tauscher Jan. 3, 1928 1,926,951 Larson Sept. 12, 1933 1,990,510 Winkler Feb. 12, 1935 2,041,646 Larson May 19, 1936 

